Cooking caddy

ABSTRACT

A kitchen cooking apparatus which allows the cook a convenient area to place his or her cooking pot or pan covers during the cooking process or when not cooking a place to store pot or pan covers. The device consists of a frame pivotally connected to at least one pot cover support which is connected to at least two pot cover support legs which are movable between a fully expanded position and a fully collapsed position. The apparatus has a removable drip tray for catching and holding cooking juices during the cooking process, which doubles as place to hold cooking utensils. Upon completion of the cooking the drip tray can be removed and the apparatus either left open for cover storage or snapped shut for drawer storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cooking caddy and more particularly, to a useful kitchen small appliance that will receive and hold hot and messy pot covers in a convenient fashion. The caddy will easily store in a drawer or on a wall.

When cooking over a hot stove with pots and pans, the cook almost always utilizes pot covers with handles thereon to assist in the cooking process. Such covers aid in retaining moisture during the cooking process and permit food to be slowly simmered.

Problematically, when the cook wishes to inspect the food within the pot or pan, she or he is required to remove the pot cover for the inspection. A significant problem exists as to what to do with the extremely hot cover typically loaded with hot moisture droplets or remnants of hot food on the covers underside. To date cooks have simply laid the covers onto counters, on paper towels or placed the covers in sinks. Such efforts result in leaving moisture and food debris at the cover set down location. Sometimes this effort often result in the cook burning himself or herself during this operation.

There is a need for a cooking caddy that can be located portably adjacent to the hot stove for temporary holding or permanent storage of the cooking covers and temporary utensil storage during and after cooking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for supporting pot covers includes a frame movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position; at least one pot cover support connected to at least two pot cover support legs pivotally connected to the frame. The pot cover support has at least one pot cover knob support and/or a pot cover handle support.

A principal object and advantage of the invention is that it safely supports hot, messy pot covers during cooking operations allowing the hot dripping juices to drip into a removable drip tray without making a mess on the stove, sink or countertop and without fear of burning the cook.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is that it folds compactly when not in use or if one chooses, remains upright for extended cover storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the invention in the fully expanded position.

FIG. 2 is perspective front angle view of the invention showing the drip tray partially inserted into the frame.

FIG. 3 is an inside perspective view of a side rail of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plain view of the back cross link of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the invention in a fully expanded position with fully inserted drip tray.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the invention in a partially collapsed position.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the invention with inserted drip tray.

FIG. 8 is a top plain view of the invention in a fully collapsed position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the back end of a side rail of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the back rails and back cross link connecting pin of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective side view of the snap-in silicone rubber foot of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective top view of the frame without tray in a fully expanded position of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective angle view of the male snap-in lego of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective outside view of a side rail with inserted drip tray of the inventions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is an apparatus 10 for supporting pot covers. Turning to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is seen as comprising a plastic molded frame which is composed of a side rail 12 and a side rail 13. The side rail 12 and 13 are movable between a collapsed position FIG. 8 and an expanded position FIG. 1 as will be further described. In plastic the frame could also be made out of some form of metal.

FIG. 1 shows side rail 12 and 13 in the expanded position. The apparatus 10 further comprises at least one stainless steel pot cover support 16 which comprises at least two stainless steel pot cover support legs 17 which are pivotally attached to side rail 12 and 13 which are first fitted to front cross link 14 as shown in FIG. 7. as will be further described. Each end of the front of side rail 12 and 13 has an aperture as well as each end of front cross link 14. When the front ends of 12 and 13 are put together with the corresponding ends of cross link 14, the apertures 25 of 12 and 13 align with the end apertures 27 of front cross link 14 thus allowing pot cover support legs 17 to be inserted. To prevent 17 from penetrating out of the bottom of 12 and 13, a snap-in type male lego 29 is inserted into a female recipient 30 on the inside of side rail 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 3.

Again in FIG. 1, one can see a second pot cover support 16A connected to two pot cover support legs 18 which are pivotally attached at a point between the front and the back of side rail 12 and 13. The exact distance between pot cover supports legs 17 and 18 is not that critical other than there must be enough room to put on two covers with maximum ease and comfort. Like pot cover support legs 17, pot cover support legs 18 are affixed to side rail 12 and 13 by inserting 18 into an identical aperture, 26 on each of side rail 12 and 13. As with pot cover support legs 17, pot cover support legs 18 are prevented from penetrating entirely through side rail 12 and 13 with the use of a snap-in type male lego 29 which fits into female 30A on the inside of side rail 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 3. The top center area of 29 is cupped 31 to receive and hold in place pot cover support legs 17 and 18 without interfering 17 and 18 to freely pivot as the frame moves between its collapsed and fully expanded position.

On the underside of side rail 12 and 13 the front aperture hole 25 is covered by a snap-in plug made out of silicone which doubles as a non-slip foot while the underside of aperture 26 is left exposed or alternatively, for decorative purposed covered with the use of any material affixed with adhesive.

Pot cover supports 16 and 16A along with pot cover support legs 17 and 18 could also be made out of steel, other than stainless or aluminum of which both may be left uncoated or coated with plastic or another material which would enhance appearance and inhibit rusting or oxidizing.

Also, the pot cover support 16 and 16A as well as the pot cover support legs 17 and 18 could be made out of various forms of plastic which may not be as strong as stainless steel or some other types of metals, coated or uncoated.

Turning to FIG. 1, pot cover supports 16 and 16A, comprises a pot cover handle support 20A and a pot cover knob support 20B in which pot cover handle H or pot cover knob C may be passed as shown in figure one.

To cover the undersides of aperture 25 in the front end of side rail 12 and 13, a silicone snap-in foot 32 is inserted also functions as a non-slip protective foot. The snap-in foot 32 is made out of silicone rubber. However, it could also be made out of various forms of rubber. Other than the non-slip snap-in silicone foot, one could cover apertures 25 by affixing a piece of rubber, cork, felt or other material with an adhesive type material.

The back end of side rail 12 and 13 fit together with each end of back cross link 15. The back end of side rail 12 and 13 each have an aperture 35. The ends of back cross link 15 each have an aperture 28. When the back ends of side rail 12 and 13 are fitted together with each end of back cross link 15 the apertures 35 of side rail 12 and 13 and the apertures 28 of back cross link 15 align. Once together, the back end of side rail 12 and 13 and each end of back cross link 15 are held together by inserting from the underside of apertures 35 a connecting pin 56 that transversing through apertures 28 on each end of back cross link 15 and aperture 35 on each end of cross link 15 without penetrating through the top surface of either side rail 12 or 13. The connecting pins 56 are held in place and not allowed to fall out of the apertures on the back end of side rails 12 and 13 by inserting from the bottom a silicone snap-in foot 32 which also acts as a non-slip rubber foot. The snap-in foot 32 could also be made out of various forms of rubber or other materials that would still allow it to be snapped into the aperture. As with aperture 26, in place of snap-in foot 32, apertures 35 could be covered by the use of a piece of rubber, cork, felt or other material that if affixed by some form of adhesive.

Momentarily turning to FIG. 3, one can see on the back end side rail 12 and 13 is a horizontal slot 51 and 52, approximately one half inch in length and slightly less in width. At the back end of horizontal slots 51 and 52 and attached to it is a vertical raised male appendage 53 which in conjunction with the piece between slot 51 and 52, move in a spring board fashion.

Turning to FIG. 4. one can see a top view of back cross link 15 which at each end has a female indentation 54 and 55. When the frame is in its fully expanded position the vertical raised male appendage 53, FIG. 3 on each back end of side rail 12 and 13 snap into the female the indentations 54 and 55 on each end of cross link 15 indicating that the frame is in its fully expanded position as shown in FIG. 5 and 12.

Momentarily turning to FIG. 1 one can see a removable drip tray 62 that is used to catch hot, messy, drippings from the cooking covers of which 62 can also be used as a utensil holder for holding all cooking utensils such as 60. The removable tray 62 is divided into three sections. However, removable tray 62 may have no divided sections or any number of divided sections.

Momentarily turning to FIG. 12 one can see on each side rail 12 and 13 there is a shelf 61 that runs along the inside almost the entire length of side rail 12 and 13. On the front of 12 and 13 the shelf 61 is cut back into the top plain of 12 and 13 for the purpose making is easier for the removable drip tray to enter into and slide down 61. To prevent tray 62 from penetrating to far out the back of side rail 12 and 13 when frame is in its fully expanded position, the tray 62 comes into contact with the back wall of the back of side rail 12 and 13, FIG. 3. 

1. The Cooking Caddy apparatus is used for supporting pot covers which comprise a formed frame movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, which receives a removable utensil tray and one or more wire pot cover supports pivotally connected to the frame wherein the one or more wire pot cover supports further comprise two wire pot cover support legs pivotally engaging the frame of which at least one pot cover support further holds in an extended fashion over the removable drip tray a pot cover knob or a pot cover handle.
 2. As is claimed in claim 1 whereas a frame has two side rails which are pivotally attached to a front and back cross link which when attached are movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position.
 3. As is claimed in claim 2 whereas incorporates into the back end of each one of two side rails and each end of the back cross link a connecting pin which penetrates an aperture in the back end of each one of the two side rails and each end the back cross link.
 4. As is claimed in claim 3 whereas the connecting pin penetrating each one of two back side rails and are prevented from falling out of the bottom of each one of two back side rails by the use of a snap-in rubber assembly which fits into the bottom of the aperture on the bottom of each one of two side rails which additionally function as a non-slip protective foot.
 5. As claimed in claim 1 whereas the two side rails and one front rail are connected together by two pot cover support legs of one pot cover support with one of two pot cover support legs penetrating an aperture in the front end of each one of two side rails and each end of the front cross link with the other pot cover support leg penetrating a aperture in the front of the other parallel running side rail and simularily penetrating the aperture of the front cross link securely connecting said cross rails and cross link and allowing said cross links and cross link to pivot between a fully expanded and fully collapsed position.
 6. As claimed in claim 4 whereas the two pot cover support legs are prevented from penetrating completely through the front aperture of each of two parallel side rails\by incorporation of a lego style snap-in part which snaps into place on the inside of each of one of two parallel side rails and rest directly under and in line with each corresponding pot cover support leg.
 7. As claimed in claim 5 whereas each of lego style snap-in part fitted within the inside of each parallel side rail has a recessed cupped area large enough to allow each of one of two pot cover support legs to be held in place with free pivot capacity.
 8. As claimed in claim 1 whereas a second pot support incorporating two pot cover support legs is connected to the frame.
 9. As claimed in claim 8 whereas each the pot cover support leg penetrates each one of two side rails through an aperture in each one of two side rails in a manner allowing the pot cover support to pivot between a fully collapsed and fully expanded position in a like manner identical with any other pot cover supports.
 10. As is claimed in claim 9 wherein each of said pot cover support legs is kept from penetrating through the aperture incorporated in each one of two side rails with the incorporation of a lego type snap-in part housed within the inside of one of two side rails.
 11. As is claimed in claim 10 wherein each one of two lego type snap-in parts has a recessed cupped area large enough to allow each of one of two pot cover support legs to rest within in and as such prevent each one of two pot cover supports legs from penetrating the bottom of each one of two side rails.
 12. As is claimed in claim 1 wherein the removable utensil tray slides between the one of two side rails when the one of two side rails incorporated with the front and back cross links are in a fully expanded position.
 13. As is claimed in claim 1 whereas the removable utensil tray is compartmentalized to hold all types of messy cooking utensils whether independently of the Cooking Caddy frame or by being slid into the inside side rail grooves of the fully expanded frame as a drip tray and holder of all messy utensils.
 14. As is claimed in claim 1 the formed frame is made out of plastic.
 15. As is claimed in claim 1 the formed frame is made out of steel coated or uncoated with plastic.
 16. As is claimed in claim 1 there are two pot cover supports.
 17. As is claimed in claim 1 the one or more pot cover supports and pot cover support legs are made out of stainless steel.
 18. As is claimed in claim 1 the one or more pot cover supports and pot cover support legs are made out of steel coated or uncoated with plastic.
 19. As claimed in claim 1 the one or more pot cover supports and pot cover support legs are made out of plastic.
 20. As claimed in claim 1 the one or more pot cover support and pot cover support legs are made out of aluminum coated or uncoated with plastic. 